Pneumatic control for box machines



Jan. 19.4 1937.

H. K. DICKERMANN E'TAL 068,008 PNEUMATIC CONTROL FOR BOX` MACHINEOriginal Filed July 7, 1927 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Jan- 19, 1937.1 H. K. DICKERMANN` E'r AL 2,068,008

PNEUMATIC CONTROL FOR BOX' MAGHINES OriginaLFled Jly '7, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. HARRY K. DlcKERMAN/v, BY JOHN W. MS CART/4vI4M, 'gu/MM, 8 Mh ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES MacsPNEUMATIC CONTROL FOR BOX MACHINES Harry K. Dickermann, Buffalo, andJohn W. McCarthy, Lockport, N. Y., assignors to F. N.

Burt Company,

Limited, Toronto,

Ontario,

Canada, a. corporation of Ontario Original application July 7, 1927,Serial No. 203,881. Divided and this application January 14, 1933,Serial No. 651,768. Renewed June 24 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a pneumatic control device andwith reference to some of the important specific features thereof, itrelates to such a control device for controlling the handling of blanksin the manufacture of paper boxes and the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved pneumaticcontrol whereby the automatic handling of blanks or the like isfacilitated. y

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangementfor pneumatic control whereby the pneumatic energy is controlled in animproved and efficient manner for initiating and discontinuing atpredetermined periods the pneumatic holding grip upon blanks or thelike, utilized in the manufacture of boxes or other articles.

Afurther object is to provide in a pneumatic control, an improved valvestructure and operative connections therefor, whereby the pneumaticenergy is effectively controlled in a predetermined manner and for theaccomplishment of desired results.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a pneumaticcontrol, an improved valve structure for controlling pneumatic energy toa rotary and longitudinally reciprocating conduit for the accomplishmentof predetermined results, and especially for the holding and handling ofblanks of sheet material utilized in the manufacture of boxes and otherarticles.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in thefollowing detailed description of an illustrative but preferredembodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connectiontherewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding and disclosure of the nature andobjects of the invention, reference is had to the subjoined detaileddescription of the illustrative embodiment and to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation, parts being in section, of theimproved pneumatic control mechanism as utilized in a machine for themanufacture of boxes of paper or similar sheet material;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 1 showing additional featuresQi Jille improved control mechanism and showing some of the parts indifferent positions;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views showing in elevation differentparts of the pneumatic control valve, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism for operating thepneumatic control valve.

The invention of this application is disclosed in applicants priorco-pending application for Box machine, Serial No. 203,881, led July 7,1927. This application is, therefore, a division of the p-riorapplication.

The improved pneumatic control system is herein disclosed in connectionwith a machine for making boxes or box parts from sheet material such aspaper, or from paper blanks which are carried by a die-head in theformative operations of the box. In this form of machine, the formativeoperations are successively performed upon the blank at a plurality ofoperative stages being carried by the die-head and held in positionthereon by pneumatic means controlled in a definite manner to establishthe blank holding pneumatic or vacuum grip and to release it in apredetermined manner.

As herein disclosed, the die-head Ill is'shaped to rece-ive the boxblank T and is supported by a rotary and longitudinally reciprocatingspindle II rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the supportingframe I3, one of these bearings being shown at I2. The bearings andconnections thereto of the spindle II are designed not only to providefor rotation of the spindle on its longitudinal axis, but also to permitreciprocation of the spindle longitudinally of its axis.

As shown in the drawings, the die-head I0 may be in the form of ametallic block shaped in accordance with the box part to be made andcooperates with a breakdown frame I4 for shaping the blank and pressingit in contact with the surface of the die-head. Pneumatic conduits I5are formed in the die-head opening into the peripheral faces thereof toprovide pneumatic gripper ports in said faces. These pneumatic conduitscommunicate with an inner conduit I6 provided within the spindle II andextending longitudinally thereof into communication with a source ofpneumatic energy such as a vacuum pump or reservoir through the flexiblehose connection I'I.

Any desired means may be provided (not shown) for effecting rotation ofthe supporting spindle I I as required in the formative operations ofthe blank. Also, means are provided for effecting longitudinalreciprocation of the spindle.

For the latter purpose a rotary shaft I8 driven in any desired mannerdrives a rotary drum cam I9 provided with a peripheral cam slot 20 inwhich runs a cam lug or roller 2l carried by a sleeve 22 rotatablysecured to the spindle iI. A guiding roller 23 is also carried by thesleeve 22 running in a longitudinal slot of a guideway 24 for guidingand supporting the spindle I I in its longitudinal movements. Thedie-head together with its supporting spindle will be longitudinallyreciprocated by rotation of the cam I9.

A pneumatic control system is provided to connect the spindle conduit I5with a source of pneumatic energy whereby the gripper ports and thedie-head are automatically energized or deenergized at predeterminedintervals for controlling the grip upon the box blank T. The gripperports are thus controlled to retain the blank in folded conditionagainst the face of the diehead. This pneumatic system includes theconduits I5 and I5 mentioned and a control valve 25 mounted upon thespindle II and communicating with the conduit It and the power supplyhose I'I.

This control valve 25 includes a valve disk 25 connected to thesupporting spindle II and rotatable therewith, a valve disk 2'! spacedfrom the rotary disk, and an intermediate controlling disk 28. The valvedisk 2'! is centrally transversely apertured to rit snugly upon thesupporting spindle and is anchored by means of an anchor rod 29appropriately supported by the frame I3, thus permitting rotation of thespindle, while the valve disk 2l is restrained against rotation. Theintermediate controlling disk 28 also fits snugly upon the spindle II,but is rotatable thereon and may be turned through a limited angle ofrotation by means of a valve controlling mechanism. This mechanism asshown includes a stud 38 secured to the disk 28 and carrying aperipherally grooved roller 3|. Spaced parallel operating rods 32 arepositioned to seat within the groove of roller 3l at opposite sidesthereof and are attached at their inner ends to an arm or projection 33which may be formed upon a bearing sleeve 34 rotatably mounted upon thespindle II. This construction provides an operative guideway or framefor operation of the valve. It will thus be seen that the roller 3l willslide idly along the operating rods 32 during longitudinal movements ofthe supporting spindle il. However, when the arm 33 is swung the rods 32will be correspondingly moved and the valve disk 28 will be rotatedthrough a small angle.

Swinging movement of the arm 33 may be effected by means of a cam 35mounted upon a driving shaft 35 and operatively connected by a rock arm3'I carrying at its outer end a cam roller 38 and connected at its innerend to the arm 33 by a link 39. The cam 35 is constructed and timed torotate the valve disk 28 at predetermined intervals to admit the vacuumsupply or to cut it off from the die-head. A tension spring 48 urges thecam roller 38 into contact with the cam 35.

Each of the valve disks 25, 21 and 28 is provided with smooth evencontacting surfaces which are held in close engagement with each otherby means of a compression spring 4I compressed between the end disk Z'Iand an abutment collar 42. Air-tight joints are thus formed between theadjacent contacting disks. Also, the connections between the disks andthe spindle II are air-tight.

Upon its inner face the valve disk 26 is formed with a circular grooveor passageway 43 extending for a complete circle, and with two radialpassageways 44 in communication with the passageway 43 and with theinner conduit E i5 through passageways 45 in the wall of the spindle Il.The central or controlling valve disk 28 is provided with a port 46extending transversely through said disk 28 and positioned forcommunication at one end with the passageway 43 of the disk 26. Thevalve disk 27 is also provided at its inner face with an arcuatepassageway 41 of approximately the same radius as that of passageway 43and lying against the adjacent face of the control disk 28. Thepassageway 41 may be considerably7 less than 360 in extent, leaving anungrooved part 48. It will thus be seen that the passageway or port 45remains in communication with the circular passageway 43 in all rotarypositions of the valve disk 26 but that port 46 is only in communicationwith the passageway 41 when control disk 28 is rocked to the dot anddash position shown in Fig. 4. This rocking is eected by operation ofthe cam 35 as above described.

When the raised part of the cam 35 contacts with the cam roller 38, thevalve disk 28 will be positively rotated to close the valve, and whenthe raised part of the cam passes by the roller the valve disk 28 willbe rotated in the opposite direction to open the valve by means of thespring 4l). communicating with the die-head conduits will be controlledthrough the valve disk 28 under automatic control by the cam 35.

By means of the structure and arrangement set forth, it will thereforebe seen that the control valve may be operated to control the pneumaticenergy to the die-head in diierent rotative and longitudinal positionsthereof and in different longitudinal and rotative positions of thesupporting spin-dle Il. These functions are of particular importancebecause by means thereof the gripping and releasing operations of theblank T upon the die-head may be controlled in any position of thelatter. The vacuum grip may thus be established at the moment desired inthe formative cycles of operation upon the blank and released when it isdesired to eject the blank from the die-head after completion of theformative operations. When the blank has been completely formed, asfully described in the prior copending f application, the die-head willhave been projected forwardly through the breakdown frame I4 into adifferent formative stage in which the operative parts assume theposition as shown in Fig. 2. However, with the improved mechanismdescribed, the pneumatic poweris under complete control through thecontrol valve 25 in the various rotative and longitudinal operativepositions of the supporting spindle II.

Port 4B of the control disk 28 is always in communication with theycircular passageway 43 of rotary valve disk 26 in any rotative positionof the spindle I I. However, the port 46 is closed to power admission bythe closure member 48 of the valve disk 2'I when disk 28 is in itsnormal or full line position, as shown in Fig. 4. The pneumatic power istherefore, in this position, cut 01T from the spindle conduit I6. Thedisk 2 being anchored Aagainst rotation by the anchor rod 29, the port45, when the disk 28 is rotated to the dot and dash position of Fig. ll,will communicate with the arcuate passageway 4'". Power will thus beadmitted to the spindle conduit I5 through the passageway 4l, port 46,and passageways 43, 44

It will thus be seen that the vacuum supply of the disk 26 and ports 45through the spindle wall. f

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I-Iaving described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a longitudinally reciprocable and rotary fluid conduit, a supportinghead carried by said conduit for movement with the latter and having agripper port in iiuid communication with the conduit, a control valvemounted upon said conduit for movement therewith and having fluidcommunication therewith and with Va source of fluid power supply, andautomatic means for controlling said valve to control iiui-d power tothe conduit and gripper port in different longitudinal positions of saidconduit.

2. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a longitudinally reciprocable and rotary fluid conduit, a control valvemounted uponl sai-d conduit for reciprocation therewith and having fluidcommunication therewith and with a source of iiuid power supply, andautomatic means for opening said valve to admit fluid power to theconduit in one longitudinal and rotative position of the latter and toclose said valve in another longitudinal position thereof.

3. In a iiuid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a longitudinally reciprocable and rotary fluid conduit, a control valvemounted upon said conduit for reciprocation therewith and having uidcommunication therewith and with a source of fluid power supply, saidvalve including a valve element rotatable with said conduit, a valveelement anchored againstrotation with the conduit, an intermediate valveelement rotatable with reference to the other two valve elements to openand close the valve, and automatic means for opening said valve to admitfluid power to the conduit in one longitudinal and rotative position ofthe latter and to close sai-d valve in another longitudinal position ofthe conduit.

4. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a longitudinally reciprocable and rotary fluid conduit, a control valvemounted upon said conduit for reciprocation therewith and having uidcommunication therewith and with a source of fluid power supply, saidvalve including a valve element rotatable with said conduit, a valveelement anchored against rotation with the conduit, an intermediatevalve element rotatable with reference to the other two valve elementsto open and close the valve, and automatic means connected to move saidintermediate valve element to control uid power to the conduit indifferent longitudinal positions of the latter.

5. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a rotary iiuid conduit, a control valve mounted upon said conduit andhaving fluid communication therewith and with a source of uid powersupply, said valve including a valve element attached to and rotatablewith said conduit, a valve element anchored against rotation with theconduit, an intermediate valve element rotatable with reference to theother two valve elements, and having its opposite faces in fluid tightcontact therewith. an

operating lug mounted upon said intermediate valve element, an elongatedoperating rod cooperating with said lug, and means for moving said rodtransversely of its axis to operate said intermediate valve element toopen and close the valve.

6. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, in combination,a longitudinally reciprocable and rotary fluid conduit, a control valvemounted upon said conduit for reciprocation therewith and having fluidcommunication therewith and with a source of iiuid power supply, saidvalve including a valve element rotatable with said conduit, a valveelement anchored against rotation with the conduit, an intermediatevalve element rotatable with reference to the other two valve elements,and having its opposite faces in fluid tight contact therewith, and anoperating connection with said intermediate valve element including alug and an elongated guideway for rotating said intermediate element indifferent longitudinal positions of said conduit.

7. A valve having a plurality of cooperating disks positioned side byside, one disk being rotatably mounted and having an endless arcuatepassageway with an exit port in communication therewith and extendinginwardly from said passageway for communication with an inwardlydisposed conduit, another disk being relativelyv stationary and having adiscontinuous arcuate, passageway with an ingress port in communicationtherewith and having a closure member at one end o-f the passageway, andan intermediate movable controlling disk having a port positioned incommunication with both of said passageways in one position thereof andin closing relation' with said closure member in another position.

8. In a box making machine, in combination, a blank shaping head, arotatable and longitudinally movable head supporting spindle having aconduit in communication with said head,.

and a combined power controlling valve and power supply coupling mountedupon said spindle for longitudinal movement therewith, said valve havinga. part mounted upon said spindle for rotation therewith and an adjacentcompanion part mounted upon said spindle for rotation relatively theretofor controlling power supply to the shaping head.

9. In a box machine, in combination, a shaping head having a peripheralsurface for receiving a blank thereagainst, and having a plurality ofpneumatic conduits communicating with said surface, a rotary andlongitudinally movable supporting spindle for said shaping head having apneumatic conduit therein communicating with said first mentionedconduits, a pneumatic valve mounted on said spindle and having a. valvepart rotatable with said spindle, a valve part anchored againstrotation, and a movable valve control part, and mechanism forcontrolling said valve control part at predetermined intervals.

10. In a box machine, in combination, a shaping head having a peripheralsurface for receiving a blank thereagainst, and having a plurality ofpneumatic conduits communicating with said surface, a rotary andlongitudinally movable supporting spindle for said shaping head having apneumatic conduit therein communicating with said first mentionedconduits, a pneumatic valve mounted on said spindle and having a valvepart rotatable with said spindle, and an lindependently rotatablecompanion part, and operating connections for operating said companionpart in different longitudinal positions of said spindle.

11. In a fluid power controlling device, in cornbination,'a die head, asupporting spindle for said die head mounted for longitudinalreciprocation and having a conduit in communication with said head, apower controlling valve mounted upon said spindle for reciprocationtherewith and having connections for controlling uid power to saidconduit, and an operating device for said valve including an elongatedguideway connected to the valve for operation thereof in differentl-ongitudinal positions of said reciprocating spindle.

12. A valve having a plurality of co-operating disks positioned side byside and in contact with each other, one of said disks being rotativelymounted and having a curvilinear passageway extending continuously in anendless path and having an exit port in communication with thepassageway, another of said disks being anchored against rotation withthe said rotary disk and having a curvilinear passageway with an ingressport in communication therewith and having a closure member positionedat one end of the passageway, and a third of said disks being rotatablymounted with reference to the other two disks and positionedtherebetween and having a port opening at opposite faces thereof inposition for communication with both of saidA passageways in oneposition thereof and in closing relation with said closure member inanother position thereof.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, a valvehaving a plurality of cooperating disks positioned side by side and incontact with each other, one of said disks being rotatively mounted andhaving a. curvilinear passageway extending continuously in an endlesspath and having an exit port in communication with the passageway,another of said disks being anchored against rotation with the saidrotary disk and having a discontinuous curvilinear passageway with aningress port in communication therewith and having a closure memberpositioned at one end of the passageway, and a third of said disks beingrotatably mounted with reference to the other two disks and positionedtherebetween andl having a port opening at opposite faces thereof inposition for communication with both of said passageways in one positionthereof and in closing relation with said closure member in anotherposition thereof, and an automatic operating device connected to movesaid third disk into opening and closing position at predeterminedintervals.

14. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, incombination, a rotary and longitudinally reciprocable spindle having anelongated conduit extending therealong, a supporting head carried bysaid spindle for movements therewith and having a gripper port in fluidcommunication with the conduit, a controlling valve mounted upon saidspindle for movements therewith and having fluid communication with saidconduit and with a source of fluid power supply, and an automatic valveoperating device connected to said valve to open and close the same soas to eiect control of fluid power to the ccnduit and to said gripperport in diierent rotativepositions of said spindle,

l5. In a fluid power controlling device for box machines, incombination, a rotary and longitudinally reciprocable spindle having anelongated conduit extending therealong, a supporting head carried bysaid spindle for movements therewith and having a gripper port in fluidcommunication With the conduit, a control valve mounted upon saidspindle for movements therewith and having fluid communication with saidconduit and with a source of uid power supply, said valve including avalve element rotatable with said spindle, a valve element anchoredagainst rotation with the spindle, an intermediate valve elementrotatable with reference to the other two valve elements, and anautomatic valve operating device connected for rotating saidintermediate element to admit iiuid power to the -conduit and gripperport in one rotative position of said spindle and to cut off the powerin another rotative position of the spindle.

JOHN W. MCCARTHY. HARRY K. DICKERMANN.

